hole-in-the-wall

noun

ˈhōl-in-ṯẖə-ˈwȯl

plural holes-in-the-wall

: a small and often unpretentious out-of-the-way place (such as a restaurant)

Examples of hole-in-the-wall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

In the old town, the Basilica of St Nicolo is both a Catholic church and - on a lower level - an Orthodox church - surrounded by a perfect piazza, ringed round by wine bars and hole-in-the-wall restaurants. —

Sarah Turner, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024 Patole heads to a market town to buy leafy greens, then trudges down a muddy road lined with butcher shops, each a hole-in-the-wall, run by Muslim men – the Indian minority dominates the butchery trade. —

Omkar Khandekar, NPR, 15 Dec. 2024 Seek out hole-in-the-wall eateries Food in Hawaiʻi is as diverse as its population. —

Catherine Toth Fox, AFAR Media, 11 Dec. 2024 Family-owned and run by Freddy and his kids since 2001, this hole-in-the-wall is a beloved neighborhood favorite. —

Allie Lazar, Saveur, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hole-in-the-wall

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of hole-in-the-wall was in 1856

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hole-in-the-wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hole-in-the-wall. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

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